GET THE APP
Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Category: Politics
July 17, 2025
Politics

Senate Approves Trump’s $9 Billion Cut to Foreign Aid, Biased Media.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Senate passed a $9 billion federal spending cuts package targeting foreign aid and public broadcasters accused of bias.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, NPR, PBS, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Early Thursday morning in the U.S. Senate, with a House vote expected this week.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “It’s a small but important step toward fiscal sanity that we all should be able to agree is long overdue.” – John Thune

🎯IMPACT: The bill eliminates taxpayer funding for NPR, PBS, and foreign aid programs, aligning with Trump’s fiscal priorities.

IN FULL

The United States Senate approved the Trump White House rescission request early Thursday morning, cutting nearly $9 billion in previously appropriated spending, primarily for public broadcasting and foreign aid. Notably, the rescission package includes significant cuts to NPR and PBS, essentially cutting off the public broadcasters’ access to taxpayer dollars—marking a significant victory for President Donald J. Trump’s legislative agenda.

In addition to addressing funding for NPR and PBS, the rescission package also pulls back funding for grants handled by the now-defunct United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Despite having now passed the House and Senate, the spending clawback will need to head back to the lower chamber of Congress, as the Senate did enact some changes to the measure, including restoring funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The House must pass the rescissions by Friday for them to take effect.

The funding cut measure includes an $8 billion reduction in foreign aid, which includes several immigrant and refugee assistance programs. Several programs dealing with international disaster relief and global health initiatives will also receive significant cuts.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) described the move as “a small but important step toward fiscal sanity that we all should be able to agree is long overdue.” Despite resistance from two senior Republicans on the Appropriations Committee, Thune secured the passage of the bill with only a handful of changes.

Image by Ron Cogswell.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
July 17, 2025
Politics

Musk’s Approval Has Cratered Since He Turned on Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Elon Musk’s favorability rating has dropped significantly, particularly among Republicans, following his fallout with President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Elon Musk, President Trump, and polling respondents.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Poll results were published on Thursday by CNN.

🎯IMPACT: Despite his slide in popularity, Musk’s proposed “America Party” could still siphon votes from the GOP, benefiting Democrats in future elections.

IN FULL

Elon Musk’s favorability rating has plummeted to 23 percent, according to new polling data released Thursday. The Tesla CEO, who has faced mounting criticism following his fallout with President Donald J. Trump, now sees 60 percent of Americans holding an unfavorable opinion of him. This marks a 12-point drop in favorability since March, alongside a seven-point increase in unfavorable views.

The decline found in the poll, released by CNN, is most pronounced among Republicans. In March, 75 percent of Republicans viewed Musk favorably, but that figure has since fallen to just 42 percent. This shift coincides with Musk’s announcement of his “America Party,” a new political venture aimed at creating a third-party alternative in the U.S.

Musk’s new party is struggling to gain traction. While an unscientific poll Musk conducted on X (formerly Twitter) showed support for the initiative, CNN’s scientific poll found that only 25 percent of Americans back the idea, with 74 percent opposed. The lack of enthusiasm could spell trouble for Musk’s ambitions, especially as the party’s impact appears to be limited to siphoning votes from Republicans.

According to Echelon Insights, the “America Party” would garner just five percent on a generic congressional ballot in 2026. However, that five percent would come entirely from Republican voters, shifting the balance from Republicans +1 to Democrats +4. This potential realignment could have significant consequences for upcoming elections.

Musk’s efforts to establish himself as a political force continue to face challenges, with his declining favorability and the potential disruption his party might cause within the American right. The fallout with President Trump appears to have further alienated a key base of support for the South African billionaire.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
July 16, 2025
Politics

Hunter Biden Blames Democrat Losses on Lack of Loyalty to His Father.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Hunter Biden claimed that the Democratic Party’s 2024 election loss stemmed from abandoning his father, Joe Biden, as the party’s leader, arguing the party “literally melted down.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Biden Sr.’s physician Kevin O’Connor, and Biden White House aides.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Comments made on the At Our Table podcast, set to air Thursday, July 17, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We lost the last election because we did not remain loyal to the leader of the party.” – Hunter Biden

🎯IMPACT: Hunter Biden’s remarks point to internal party struggles, with further scrutiny on Joe Biden’s health and leadership during the campaign.

IN FULL

Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, says the Democratic Party’s 2024 election loss was due to its decision to abandon his father as its leader, claiming the party “literally melted down.” Speaking on the At Our Table podcast hosted by former Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison, Hunter Biden defended his father’s controversial legacy and lashed out at those behind the machinations that saw former President Biden drop out of the presidential race on July 21, 2024.

“We lost the election because we did not remain loyal to the leader of the party,” Biden said, according to excerpts of the conversation released prior to the podcast’s airing on Thursday. “That’s my position. We had the advantage of incumbency. We had the advantage of an incredibly successful administration, and the Democratic Party literally melted down.”

The comments from Hunter Biden come as former White House staff are facing a Congressional inquiry into allegations that they covered up former President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and used an autopen device to sign presidential directives without the octogenarian Democrat’s knowledge. Most recently, Biden’s White House doctor, Kevin O’Connor, pleaded the Fifth, refusing to answer questions from the House Oversight Committee.

Following a disastrous June 2024 presidential debate performance, Joe Biden was pressured by Democratic leaders and some of his senior staff to exit the race, as polling showed a catastrophic defeat for the party up and down the November ballot. Addressing the alleged cover-up of his father’s cognitive decline, Hunter Biden argued “the idea of a conspiracy” is a ploy peddled by journalists trying to sell books and that hiding a President’s declining health would be impossible in Washington, D.C.

Hunter Biden then denied allegations that he acted as a key advisor to his father, telling Harrison that he “stayed as far away” as he could during the campaign. Notably, Hunter Biden faced federal gun and tax fraud charges at the time.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
July 15, 2025
Immigration
Politics

Owner of Illegal Alien Weed Farm Is Newsom Donor.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The co-founder of Glass House Farms—a marijuana operation raided by federal immigration agents who uncovered child labor and detained 361 illegal immigrant workers, including 14 minors—has been revealed to be a donor to Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Glass House Farms co-founder Graham Farra, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Gov. Gavin Newsom, and protestors.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The raid occurred last Thursday at Glass House Farms in Ventura County, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors.” – Glass House Brands statement via X.

🎯IMPACT: The raid sparked violent clashes between protestors and agents, raised questions about labor practices, and brought scrutiny to political donations by Glass House Farms’ co-founder.

IN FULL

The co-founder of Glass House Farms, Graham Farra, has donated substantial sums to California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) and other Democrats, according to campaign finance records. Farra’s company, Glass House Farms, was raided by federal agents last Thursday, resulting in the detention of 361 illegal immigrants, including 14 minors. The raid turned violent, with one worker falling to his death from a greenhouse.

Glass House Brands, the parent company of Glass House Farms, issued a statement on X asserting, “Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors.” Farra himself posted on X, stating, “We are focused on taking care of our people and our plants,” though the post was later deleted.

Farra has a history of political contributions to Democrat causes, including a $10,000 donation to Newsom in 2018 and contributions to the Santa Barbara County Democratic Central Committee’s federal PAC and Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA).

Newsom’s only comment on the campaign donor revelation was to deflect in a post on X, stating, “Sure is rich for Fox News and the Trump Admin to point to campaign donations to Democrats, when in fact, the CEO is a Trump supporter who donated to my recall and has given to more Republicans.”

The company, co-founded by Farra and Kyle Kazan, has built its reputation on claims of sustainable and ethical cannabis farming. Kazan, a former police officer and teacher, reportedly supports President Donald J. Trump. Glass House Brands has not commented on the recent allegations.

Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described the conditions at the farm as resembling “exploitation, forced child labor, and potentially human trafficking or smuggling while facing assault and even gunfire.” Among those detained was Mexican national Juan Duarte-Velasquez, who had prior convictions for rape and DUI.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
July 15, 2025
Politics

Senate Moves Forward on Trump Cuts to Foreign Aid, NPR, and PBS.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The Senate is preparing to act on a White House request to rescind $9.4 billion in funding for foreign aid and government-funded broadcasting.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), and President Donald J. Trump, among others.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The Senate could move forward as soon as Tuesday, with a Friday deadline looming for congressional action.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Very important that all Republicans adhere to my Recissions Bill,” said President Trump on Truth Social.

🎯IMPACT: The proposal could cut foreign aid, public broadcasting funding, and programs like PEPFAR.

IN FULL

The Senate is set to move forward on a White House request to claw back $9.4 billion in funding for international aid and public broadcasting. The rescissions package, requested in June, seeks to cancel previously approved funds, including $8.3 billion for USAID and $1.1 billion for public broadcasting entities like NPR and PBS. The White House has criticized these entities for spreading “radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.'” The House of Representatives already approved the package last month, despite opposition from all Democrats and four Republicans.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) indicated that procedural votes could begin Tuesday afternoon, though some Republicans remain on the fence regarding specific cuts. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) has voiced strong objections to targeting the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The Maine Republican argues that cutting PEPFAR would harm global health efforts, including maternal and child health programs. “I can’t imagine why we would want to terminate that program,” she said.

Other concerns have been raised about the impact on rural communities. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) highlighted the importance of public broadcasting for Native American tribes and rural areas, stating that Senate Republicans are working to ensure funding for these stations is preserved. “We’re proposing changes,” Rounds said, emphasizing the need to protect local radio systems in states like South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Alaska.

Conversely, President Donald J. Trump has urged Republicans to support the rescissions package, warning that those who do not back the proposal “will not have my support or Endorsement.” Meanwhile, Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), have criticized the effort as “absurd” and accused Republicans of undermining bipartisan deals for partisan purposes.

With the Friday deadline approaching, Senate Republicans face a narrow majority to pass the package. Amendments to the proposal could require further approval from the House, adding to the time constraints. Thune expressed hope for progress, stating, “I’m hoping that as we get on that bill we can see some savings achieved that will complement the things we already accomplished in reconciliation.”

Image by Matthew Hurst.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
July 14, 2025
News
Politics

House Democrats Are Turning the Epstein Affair to Their Advantage.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Democratic lawmakers are pushing for the release of all Jeffrey Epstein-related files—despite failing to do so under Joe Biden—exploiting debate and division within the Republican Party following Attorney General Pam Bondi’s apparent mishandling of the pedophile financier’s case.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: House Democrats, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and President Donald J. Trump.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The Democrats’ maneuvers have unfolded over the past week, with comments appearing on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter).

💬KEY QUOTE: “LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB – SHE’S GREAT! The 2020 Election was Rigged and Stolen, and they tried to do the same thing in 2024 – That’s what she is looking into as AG, and much more.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The Epstein issue has deepened divisions within the GOP and provided Democrats with a political opportunity to undermine the Trump administration.

IN FULL

Democratic lawmakers are ramping up calls for the release of all files related to Jeffrey Epstein—despite having little interest in the deceased pedophile financier’s case when Joe Biden was in office—and accusing the Trump administration of withholding information. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) announced plans to file a resolution demanding the release of the files, stating on X: “Either [President Donald J. Trump] and his acolytes fueled the rumors of the significance of these Epstein files to help his campaign, or something is there! Put up or Shut up!”

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) also took up the issue, writing, “Why are the Epstein files still hidden? Who are the rich & powerful being protected? On Tuesday, I’m introducing an amendment to force a vote demanding the FULL Epstein files be released to the public.” Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) stirred controversy by suggesting past allegations against Trump were complicating the matter.

Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), who is running for re-election, chimed in, “[Trump] promised to release the Epstein files. Did anyone really think the sexual predator president who used to party with Jeffrey Epstein was going to release the Epstein files?” Ossoff said during a campaign event, referring to E. Jean Carroll’s contested allegations against the America First leader.

Conservatives are divided over the issue, with some, like WarRoom host Stephen K. Bannon and investigative reporter Laura Loomer, accusing Attorney General Pam Bondi of mishandling the case, while others, including Trump, defend her. “LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB – SHE’S GREAT! The 2020 Election was Rigged and Stolen, and they tried to do the same thing in 2024 – That’s what she is looking into as AG, and much more,” he stated on his Truth Social platform.

Image by oscepa.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
July 14, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Lawfare
Politics

Lawyers Flee Pam Bondi’s DOJ.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Nearly two-thirds of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Federal Programs Branch lawyers have left since President Donald J. Trump’s re-election, raising concerns over internal divisions under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s stewardship.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Attorney General Bondi, Federal Programs Branch attorneys.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Washington, D.C., November 2024–July 2025.

🎯IMPACT: With over 60 lawyers leaving and the DOJ rocked by fallout from Bondi’s mishandling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, the department is scrambling to fill gaps and defend administration policies on immigration, education, and executive power.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Federal Programs Branch, responsible for defending many of President Donald J. Trump’s key policies against lawfare suits, has seen a wave of resignations, with 69 of roughly 110 lawyers either leaving or announcing plans to do so. The departures—verified by Reuters—stem partly from supposed ethical concerns among lawyers opposed to Trump’s policies, such as attempting to limit birthright citizenship, but also from morale issues.

The DOJ is currently at the center of a huge public backlash over a memo insisting pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, that no “client list” for him exists, and that no further information about his case can be released.

A Justice Department spokesman acknowledged the “unprecedented number of lawsuits” against Trump’s policies but noted that the Department has prevailed in many, including at the Supreme Court. However, dissidents within the DOJ said staffers feel pressure to misrepresent issues from Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The resignations include at least 10 of the Federal Programs Branch’s 23 supervisors. DOJ leadership has brought in 15 political appointees and reassigned attorneys from other units to manage the caseload. The administration also removed hiring freezes to bolster staffing. Former Civil Division chief Peter Keisler said the legal workload is staggering.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
July 14, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Politics

Biden Admits He Did Not Individually Approve Most Pardons and Commutations.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former President Joe Biden admitted he did not individually approve each name listed in his last-minute clemency actions, instead authorizing “standards” for assistants to follow while the autopen was used to finalize the warrants.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Joe Biden, his former Chief of Staff Jeffrey Zients, former White House Counsel Ed Siskel, former Staff Secretary Stefanie Feldman, and GOP investigators, including Representative James Comer (R-KY) and Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Washington, D.C., November 2024–January 2025

💬KEY QUOTE: “[T]he only things that really we read off names for were, for example, you know, was I, what was I going to do about, for example, Mark Milley?” – Joe Biden

🎯IMPACT: Republicans are investigating whether Biden’s aides issued pardons without his direct involvement, especially after his poor debate 2024 performance underlined his cognitive decline. The clemency actions include controversial preemptive pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and others.

IN FULL

Former President Joe Biden admitted in a New York Times interview that “assistants” were responsible for notifying the autopen manager as to who should receive a pardon or commutation. Biden merely signed off on broad “standards” for most acts of clemency.

“[T]he only things that really we read off names for were, for example, you know, was I, what was I going to do about, for example, Mark Milley?” Biden told the newspaper. For the most part, names were filled in by the Bureau of Prisons, and autopen use was managed by aides based on meeting notes and summaries. However, Biden defended this practice, claiming full awareness of each decision.

“I made every decision,” Biden said in a phone interview with the NYT. “We’re talking about a whole lot of people.” He accused President Trump and Republicans of lying, and suggested his actions with respect to figures like Milley and Dr. Anthony Fauci were a precaution against Trump being “vindictive” in office.

Biden authorized 25 high-profile pardons, nearly 4,000 commutations, and spared all but three death row inmates. However, the sole warrant he signed personally was for his son, Hunter Biden.

Republicans, led by House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) and Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), are investigating whether Biden’s mental decline allowed his aides to hijack the clemency process.

Some former aides have invoked the Fifth Amendment or retained legal counsel in response to the investigation.

Key figures pardoned include Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and Liz Cheney and other members of the January 6 committee.

Then-Staff Secretary Stefanie Feldman coordinated the autopen process after receiving meeting notes from aides like Jeffrey Zients and Ed Siskel.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
July 11, 2025
William Upton
Politics

Trump Names Loyalists to Planning Board in Fascinating Anti-Jerome Powell Play.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump appears to be set to utilize a little-known federal government entity to launch a renewed effort aimed at ousting Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The National Capital Planning Commission, White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf, Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) aide Stuart Levenbach, President Trump, and Jerome Powell.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Trump White House aides were named to the commission on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “I am going to request a full review of plans of the Federal Reserve project. I’m going to ask that they send us a detailed explanation package of any and all upgrades, changes and modifications to the plan that was submitted here in 2021 and approved. I’m going to request a site visit.” — Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair

🎯IMPACT: Should the National Capital Planning Commission uncover evidence of serious malfeasance or ethical lapses on Powell’s part, it could lay the groundwork for President Trump to fire Powell as Federal Reserve chairman.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump appears to be set to utilize a little-known federal government entity to launch a renewed effort aimed at either ousting Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell or, at the least, forcing the central bank chief to succumb to pressure to slash interest rates. In a political maneuver reminiscent of President Richard Nixon’s efforts to push his Fed chairman, Arthur Burns, to cut interest rates, Trump has quietly replaced a number of Biden-era appointees on the National Capital Planning Commission with key figures in his White House.

The move suggests the America First leader will use the commission’s authority over government buildings—including the Federal Reserve’s headquarters—to fuel a negative media campaign against Powell, who has overseen a lavish renovation of the central bank’s offices that has far exceeded its approved budget. However, should the National Capital Planning Commission uncover evidence of serious malfeasance or ethical lapses on Powell’s part, it could lay the groundwork for President Trump to fire the Federal Reserve chairman outright.

Leading the anti-Powell effort on the National Capital Planning Commission are its newest appointees, White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf, Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) aide Stuart Levenbach. “We should not be made fools of,” Blair told commission members on Thursday, continuing: “I am going to request a full review of plans of the Federal Reserve project. I’m going to ask that they send us a detailed explanation package of any and all upgrades, changes and modifications to the plan that was submitted here in 2021 and approved. I’m going to request a site visit.”

Dubbing the central bank’s headquarters the “Taj Mahal on the National Mall,” Blair suggested it is possible that Jerome Powell lied under oath—committing perjury—while testifying before the U.S. Senate regarding the Fed renovations. Notably, perjury is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 1621, while 18 U.S.C. § 1001 makes it a crime for individuals to make material false statements to any branch of the federal government, including Congress, regardless of whether they are under oath.

“Please count me in,” Levenbach replied, adding: “I look forward to working with you on this letter and in scrutinizing this building.”

In the 1970s, President Richard Nixon successfully mustered a negative media campaign that, along with the threat of Congressional legislation exerting greater control over the central bank, forced then-Fed chairman Arthur Burns to drop his opposition to interest rate cuts. A similar result could manifest from President Trump’s use of the National Capital Planning Commission and revelations it may uncover regarding Powell’s approval of renovations at the Fed.

However, should Powell prove more entrenched in his opposition to rate cuts than Burns was during the Nixon administration, President Trump could also use any evidence that Powell lied to Congress or engaged in unethical behavior to fire him as Fed chair. The Federal Reserve Act stipulates that a President can only fire the central bank’s chairman “for cause,” which has been interpreted by federal courts as meaning serious misconduct and not merely policy disagreements.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
July 11, 2025
Education
Politics

Columbia Strikes Deal with Trump Admin on Anti-Semitism, Racial Discrimination Allegations.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Columbia University is nearing a deal with the Trump administration to compensate victims of unlawful discrimination and increase transparency in hiring and admissions.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Columbia University and the Trump administration.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The draft agreement was first reported on Friday, July 11, 2025; Columbia University and the White House.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: A senior White House official told the media that the deal would “solidify reporting obligations related to foreign gifts” and ensure compensation for “victims of civil rights abuses.”

🎯IMPACT: The deal could set a precedent for other universities and increase accountability on anti-Semitism and racial discrimination issues.

IN FULL

Columbia University is in the final stages of negotiations with the Trump administration on a deal addressing unlawful discrimination and anti-Semitism. The agreement would require Columbia to compensate victims and adopt measures to increase transparency in hiring and admissions processes.

Notably, The National Pulse reported on Thursday that attorney Jay Lefkowitz, known for once securing a lenient deal for sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, was hired to act as a negotiator for Columbia in its discussions with the Trump administration. Sources told The National Pulse that Lefkowitz has outplayed federal negotiators in the Trump administration and was on the verge of finalizing an agreement with the U.S. government to rescue the far-left college from financial disaster.

The university’s board of trustees convened on Sunday to discuss the draft agreement, which would also restore access to $400 million in federal grants and contracts previously frozen by the White House’s anti-Semitism task force. A senior White House official told the media that the deal would “solidify reporting obligations related to foreign gifts” and ensure compensation for “victims of civil rights abuses.”

Notably, the agreement includes provisions for public disclosure of hiring and admissions data to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action. Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, is expected to supervise compliance. The agreement also includes measures that Columbia University agreed to earlier this year, such as tightening protest rules and placing its Middle Eastern Studies department under receivership. However, it is believed that in its current form, the deal lacks systemic reforms like the consent decree pushed by the Trump White House earlier this year and a politically diverse presidential search committee tasked with replacing the school’s interim president, Claire Shipman.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more